Through blood drawn by lash and blood drawn by sword, we learned that no union founded on the principles of liberty and equality could survive half-slave and half-free. We made ourselves anew, and vowed to move forward together.

Together, we determined that a modern economy requires railroads and highways to speed travel and commerce, schools and colleges to train our workers.

Together, we discovered that a free market only thrives when there are rules to ensure competition and fair play.

Together, we resolved that a great nation must care for the vulnerable, and protect its people from life’s worst hazards and misfortune.

Through it all, we have never relinquished our skepticism of central authority, nor have we succumbed to the fiction that all society’s ills can be cured through government alone. Our celebration of initiative and enterprise, our insistence on hard work and personal responsibility, these are constants in our character.

But we have always understood that when times change, so must we; that fidelity to our founding principles requires new responses to new challenges; that preserving our individual freedoms ultimately requires collective action.

Troy and I visited the MLK memorial for the first time last Saturday, before the crowds descended on Inaugural weekend. The series of quotes inscribed on the wall gave voice to the resolute image of King, standing arms folded with eyes focused on the future.

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that.”

“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.”

“I have the audacity to believe that peoples everywhere can have three meals a day for their bodies, education and culture for their minds, and dignity, equality and freedom for their spirits.”

Taking the time to examine King’s words and actions will continue to challenge us today.

“To be nobody but yourself in a world which is doing its best, night and day, to make you everybody else means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight; and never stop fighting.” ~e.e. cummings

As an entrepreneur it can be challenging to find focus. I’ve been working on this for awhile. It’s tough to say no to an opportunity. But sometimes you have to say no to one project in order to say yes to the right opportunity later on.

Here are a few quotes that have reminded me of this recently:

“One reason so few of us achieve what we truly want is that we never direct our focus; we never concentrate our power. Most people dabble their way through life, never deciding to master anything in particular.” – Anthony Robbins

“I’m often asked how you can start doing work you love — how you can make a living doing something you’re passionate about…Do one thing really well.” – Leo Babauta

“High achievement always takes place in the framework of high expectation.”- Charles F. Kettering

Do you have a favorite quote about focus or achievement? Leave a comment below:

The thing about kindness though is that you do it REGARDLESS. You give without expecting anything good in return. You invest your time and money on something or someone without any promises of worldly gratification. Whatever you get from these experiences is something you will always have though. Priceless moments that charge the spirit and give hope to other people.